Disability Pride Month

Every July, Disability Pride Month takes place, in which many types of disabilities are raising awareness. The same goes with me. Many people with hidden disabilities may keep them hidden, but because this particular event takes place, disabilities are not meant to be kept private.

Disability Pride Month Rainbow

The Disability Pride Month Rainbow represents:

• Red (Physical disabilities): Chronic pain and tiredness, weak mobility, loss of limbs

• Yellow (Neurodivergence): Autism Spectrum Disorder (that's me!), ADHD, dyslexia

• White: Invisible and undiagnosed disabilities

• Blue (Psychiatric disabilities): Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more

• Green (Sensory disabilities): Hearing loss, vision impairment

• Black: The anger and mourning over lost lives, not just from their disabilities, but also due to albeist violence and negligence.

In 2001, I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at just the age of three years. ASD makes your brain work a little differently, such as reacting to things in the way others don't expect. Also, there are things that are more challenging for me than they should. Since my diagnosis, I've been getting loads of support from friends and family. There may be things that I can't do easily, or at all, but at least there are some things in the world that I can handle.

However, one of the biggest achievements I've ever done in my life was graduate at Colchester Institute for BA Fashion & Textiles in 2021. Another achievement was selling physically at pop-up markets, which is a great way to get my artwork a lot of attention and reviews, unlike social media.

During lockdown in 2020, I've focused on crochet/amigurumi. This sort of hobby is very therapeutic for me, especially the repetition from crocheting the stitches. Also, I may not have been able to access the facilities at university, but I was lucky to create print patterns via computer aided design (CAD) software at home. This has made me want to create more digital art to this day. So far, I've just been drawing characters, but I should be creating digitally created prints, as well. Lockdown and COVID may have affected many lives, especially mine, but it's also given me a chance to find new ways to create artwork.

Since I've started my small business in October 2021, I've made many different series. For example, I've created the 5-Colour Set, in which they include so much character and the Food Animals, in which I learned that the possibilities are endless. I've also been posting more and more of my digital art via social media. I've even sometimes managed to come up with some things that most people haven't necessarily thought of before.

Without my disability, I don’t think my art would be as unique. And since I chose to focus on my own art two years ago, my creativity has greatly boosted. If you click here, you will learn the reason why I made this decision. It has literally saved my small business...and potentially my life. I'll continue this way to create more unique art in the future!